Driving up Highway 141 recently, just before the snow made angels out of burned trees from the Dry Creek Fire, I rolled down my window to soak in the mountain valley air. The smell of this Summers wildfire mingles with the rich fungal odor of fall. Surely the Morel mushrooms must be happy, I thought with a wry grin. (More writing and photos below)

Rivers of fog draped across the mountain sides like an undulating snake, or a scarf tossed carelessly over a shoulder. Perhaps now that the Drycreek drainage is showing off the new shape that was hidden under the tall evergreens, she’s heading out to a winter party to show off.

Sighing deeply at the loss of the luxuriant evergreen giants, The smile returns as I contemplate the new growth already manifesting on the hillside. Elk, Bear, and Deer will love this change that will bring in more low growing forage of leaf and berries. I recall the bear from a couple summers ago that was feasting on wild blackberries or currents out in the older clear-cut that has been growing back. Change is part of a forest, both natural and manmade, and often brings about a healthier ecosystem. Not always, of course, at least not in the short term. However looking at the long-term picture of which we are just a very small part, the world has been changing throughout its history and we live such a short amount of time we tend to think it’s always been this way. Have we affected these changes? Certainly we have, and not always for the best, but change will still happen without us at its own pace. We just seem to rush it along.

Meanwhile near Glenwood lovely fall leaves of Vine Maple, Dogwood, Elderberry, and Cottonwood reflected beautifully in a small stream.

**~*~*~*~*~*~*~**

Back in mid October, Outlet Falls was starting to increase the water flow. I am sure by now there is a great deal more water.

**~*~*~*~*~*~*~**

I finally spotted my first elk herd of the season on Conboy National Wildlife Refuge recently… was not able to get good quality pics but sharing anyway. The real treat was watching them come out of the field, up and over a fence and across the road, flowing like a river of brown. They are so big, yet so graceful.

**~*~*~*~*~*~*~**

Here we have a series of Mount Adams from Glenwood, taken about 2 weeks apart.
This first one is October 1, 2017.

Next is sunrise October 14. Notice the snow around and below treeline? That whole area is a burn scar, hit first by the Cold Springs fire in 2008 and more recently hit hard by the Cougar Creek Fire in 2015. A bit further west, the burn scar continues its way along the south and west sides of the mountain from the Cascade Creek Fire of 2012. There have been other fires before those 3 as well, and the Huckleberry bushes love coming back in burns. Wildflower meadows thrive as well, and the Elk and Deer have more grazing areas.

Sunrise on Halloween Day

Later on Halloween Day, with a short lived lenticular cloud cap

and rainbow from November 1, 2017.

I would love to hear from you.. which were your favorite photos, perhaps, or what fall means to you!

Contemplations… rain seems to slide the thoughts into pathways made rusty by such a long dry hot spell. Perhaps it is the sudden release of breathe after tracking so many fires this year. Or perhaps the moisture lubricates the mind, allowing it to slip and slide here and there. Out the window from where I sit and type, the rain has stopped again, the plums are huge and purple on the trees near the deck, and brighter light seems to bring a glow to the wet leaves and grass.
Mount Adams still hides her face behind the soft gray veil, refusing to show her new covering of fresh snow. I can only assume the peak has this new white gown, based on the reports from Mount Rainer’s Paradise webcams found here.

for example, at this time I see this grouping around the Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise.

Also there were reports last night from Mount Hood’s Timberline of 8-9 inches of new snow, and a very happy St. Bernard that lives at the Lodge.

Well, that was an interesting side track in my flowing rain thoughts! This has been the strangest of years. I am wondering if we will slide quickly through Autumn and into a harsh winter. Eternally hoping for the long beautiful Fall weather I love so much, but not so sure i will get it this year. Might have to content myself with fall colors from previous years such at this:

And now, as I finish up, the RAIN has continued. I learned some new words this week: Petrichor: pet·ri·chor, ˈpeˌtrīkôr/ (noun) is the earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil. The word is constructed from Greek πέτρα petra, meaning “stone”, and ἰχώρ īchōr, the fluid that flows in the veins of the gods in Greek mythology.

also: a pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather.
“other than the petrichor emanating from the rapidly drying grass, there was not a trace of evidence that it had rained at all”

Pluviophile. a lover of rain; someone who finds joy and peace of mind during rainy days.

A day in the life of a small but lovely town along the Columbia River, from a foggy morning start to a Yowser sunset. November 8, 2014, and dedicated to my niece Erin Kyte Huerta and her husband Melicio for their 11th anniversary. Erin grew up on these streets, in this town. Currently in Utah, she misses this place so I am bringing it home to her 🙂 She has had some serious health problems, and struggles to keep working, and I want to bring her some joy.
I love you Erin and Melicio, Happy Anniversary! Grandma would be hugging you right now too if she could.

This time of year is such a delight for photographers, and we bustle about in rain or sun to capture the changing seasons. For me the smell of rain after a long dry summer filled with wildfires is a glorious treasure. Watching mushrooms pop up out of the formerly dry ground, and mosses turn brilliant greet, is always a treat.

tiny dancing mushroom growing in moss along the Pacific Crest Trail near the Wind River in southern Washington

Panther Creek Road crosses the mountains between Wind River and Trout Lake

Like this:

Even in the midst of Rainy days there is beauty… although at times I just stand there and watch the rain fall, in a bit of a trance. The gentle or fierce sound of the rain, leaves blowing in the wet wind, the smell of fungi beginning to grow, it all washes over me like a cool bath of nourishment. At times I can feel my skin drinking in the moisture like a thirsty summer day.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

However soon enough I feel inspired to move, and areas of blue sky return after the passing squall… the light calls my name and a rainbow waits for me somewhere north, so off I go to Husum, Washington.

Arriving in the tiny town known for agriculture and rafting companies, I received a text with the bad news… my cousin’s daughter had unexpectedly passed away in England. Somewhat shell shocked, I wandered for awhile around my childhood hangouts along the river, in tears but trying to find positive things and beauty to hold me steady so I can send strength to my cousin Camille.

The White Salmon River is now brown with runoff and as light and shadow dance with fall leaves and clouds, and I feel the spiritual cleansing of heart this river always brings to me as it washes away the tears.

The White Salmon River and Husum falls.

This is when I finally found a rainbow, and I felt it was a sign of hope in the darkness.

All around me the light danced, and plants and rocks glimmered in rain coated jewels. Through a doorway in the darkness I saw a soft and beautiful world

Getting back in my little freshly repaired old truck, Ruby Red Rattle Rocket, I headed on north to Trout Lake as the light continued to dance on the fall leaves along the way. In a large clearcut along highway 141 the vine maples have been growing and carpeting the ground, and I realized just how many had grown when I saw the color as light burst through the clouds.

Following the light on uphill to Trout Lake, I found more pretty colors around Trout Creek by the bridge in town.

Sunset was coming on, so next I drove out to the Lake for a refreshing sunset recharge, and This next photo made me think of a bird flying free, or in this case a spirit or soul flying free of this physical restraints.

Flight of the Soul Trout Lake Sunset

After this the rain came back for awhile, and i went to visit my brother Roger and his wife Connie in their home in Trout Lake.

One last image… a friend just shared this photo with me of a mountain lake near Mount Adams. How quickly it moves from fall to winter!

I am home again from a fast trip to Fredonia, Arizona and other points in Utah, and with so many photos I hardly know where to start! These are just a few from Monday, when the sweet folks we stayed with in Idaho took us for a lovely drive through nearby valleys and canyons. There are many more, but bed is calling my name now!

Like this:

Pure and simple… a gallery of many fall color images; some I just took and some I am rediscovering in the archives.
My recent show at the Library is over and done, although a glass case display remains through October. On October 14 I will be installing many new images on metal at Mugs Coffee in Bingen, WA for the Fall season, a few from this gallery along with others will be on display.

My photography

Tip Jar Donations

If you enjoy the work I share, consider helping with a tank of gas or other expenses, so that I may continue sharing my bit of paradise with you. My old truck is not going to last much longer! I started with nothing, and no money to do promotion, but you have all helped me in one way or another get to this point and I thank you all. My current primary job is part time caregiving of sister. Contact me at starlisa.black@gmail.com about availability and purchase of different images you see,and like. Consider dropping something in to my Tip Jar so that I can keep sharing photos, Let me know if I can thank you publicly with a post., or include an email or PO address so I can thank you that way.